Carrying case for personal articles

ABSTRACT

A carrying case system comprising:
         a wallet-sized carrying case for holding personal items, the wallet-sized carrying case comprising:
           a substantially rigid front panel comprising a four-sided planar body and an upstanding rim extending along three sides of the four-sided planar body;   a substantially rigid rear panel comprising a four-sided planar body and an upstanding rim extending along three sides of the four-sided planar body; and   a lid;   wherein the front panel is hingedly connected to the rear panel such that their respective rims can be brought into engagement with one another so as to form an enclosure with an open face; and   wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the rear panel such that the lid can be brought into engagement with the front panel so as to close off the open face of the enclosure.

REFERENCE TO PENDING PRIOR PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims benefit of pending prior U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/586,101, filed Jul. 7, 2004 by MichaelO'Neill et al. for CARRYING CASE FOR PERSONAL ARTICLES (Attorney'sDocket No. ONEILL-2 PROV).

The above-identified patent application is hereby incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to carrying cases in general, and moreparticularly to carrying cases for personal articles such as creditcards, licenses, identification cards, money and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many situations it may be necessary to carry personal articles suchas credit cards, licenses, identification cards, money and the like.

Conventional leather wallets are commonly used for this purpose.However, in many situations (e.g., sports activities such as jogging,bicycling, snowboarding and hiking, water environments such as raftingand kayaking, inclement weather such as rainstorms, casual outings suchas running a quick errand, etc.), the use of formal (and frequentlyoverstuffed) leather wallets may be undesirable. This can beparticularly true where it is necessary to carry only a small subset(e.g., a license and one credit card) of the articles normally containedin a person's formal wallet.

As a result, it is desirable to provide a new and improved carrying casefor personal articles so as to facilitate the safe and convenienttransport of the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This and other objects are addressed by the provision and use of thepresent invention which comprises, in one preferred form of theinvention, a carrying case system comprising:

a wallet-sized carrying case for holding personal items, thewallet-sized carrying case comprising:

-   -   a substantially rigid front panel comprising a four-sided planar        body and an upstanding rim extending along three sides of the        four-sided planar body;    -   a substantially rigid rear panel comprising a four-sided planar        body and an upstanding rim extending along three sides of the        four-sided planar body; and    -   a lid;    -   wherein the front panel is hingedly connected to the rear panel        such that their respective rims can be brought into engagement        with one another so as to form an enclosure with an open face;        and    -   wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the rear panel such        that the lid can be brought into engagement with the front panel        so as to close off the open face of the enclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and features of the present invention will bemore fully disclosed or rendered obvious by the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments of the invention, which are tobe considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein likenumbers refer to like parts, and further wherein:

FIGS. 1-4 are schematic views of a novel carrying case for personalarticles;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the novel carrying case of FIGS. 1-4, butmodified to incorporate a tongue-and-hole latch;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the novel carrying case of FIGS. 1-5, butwith additional elements on the interior of the carrying case;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the novel carrying case of FIGS. 1-5,showing a removable money clip element;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the novel carrying case of FIGS. 1-5,showing a cardholder element;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged schematic view the novel carrying case of FIG. 8,and wherein the lid includes a gasket;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a transparent money clip which may beinserted into the novel carrying case of FIGS. 1-5;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the novel carrying case of FIGS. 1-4,wherein at least a portion of the carrying case is transparent;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a template for sizing photographs and thelike; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of the novel carrying case of FIGS. 1-4including a Radio Frequency ID.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Basic Construction

Looking first at FIGS. 1-4, there is shown a novel carrying case 5formed in accordance with the present invention. Carrying case 5generally comprises a substantially rigid front panel 10, asubstantially rigid back panel 15, and a substantially rigid lid 20.

Front panel 10 and back panel 15 are hingedly connected to one anothervia a living hinge 25, and back panel 15 and lid 20 are hingedlyconnected to one another by a living hinge 30. The upraised side edges35 and 40 of front panel 10 and back panel 15, respectively, are formedso that they can releasably snap-lock to one another when front panel 10and back panel 15 are brought into confronting relationship with oneanother, e.g., in the manner shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, the top edges45 and 50 of front panel 10 and side panel 15, respectively, and thebottom edges 55 of lid 20 are formed so that they can releasablysnap-lock to one another when lid 20 is brought into confrontingrelationship with the previously-joined front and back panels (FIG. 1).

Releasable snap-locking is preferably achieved by the edge of onecomponent “accepting” the edge of another component. This locking may beeffected in a variety of ways, e.g., by one side having a raised edgeand the other side a slight depression to meet the raised edge, or thetwo sides meeting in a side-by-side overlap, etc.

It will be appreciated that the closure of lid 20 against thepreviously-joined front and back panels will also help ensure that thefront and back panels remain closed. Thus, lid 20 also essentially“locks” front panel 10 and back panel 15 together when lid 20 is in its“closed” position (i.e., the position of FIG. 1).

Preferably lid 20 has means to assist opening the lid relative to thepreviously-joined front and back panels. In a simple form, these meansmay comprise a simple friction grip 65 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4).Alternatively, and more preferably, these means comprise a push-buttonrelease latch 70 (FIG. 5). Latch 70 comprises a flexible tongue 75attached to front panel 10 and a counterpart opening 80 formed in lid20. By depressing a target area 85 on front panel 10, tongue 75 isreleased from opening 80 in lid 20 and allows lid 20 to be openedrelative to the previously-joined front and back panels. See also FIGS.6-8, which show the tongue 75.

In essence, carrying case 5 comprises a substantially rigid front panel10 comprising a four-sided planar body and an upstanding rim 35, 45extending along three sides of the four-sided planar body; asubstantially rigid rear panel 15 comprising a four-sided planar bodyand an upstanding rim 40, 50 extending along three sides of thefour-sided planar body; and a lid 20; wherein the front panel 10 ishingedly connected to the rear panel 15 such that their respective rimscan be brought into engagement with one another so as to form anenclosure with an open face; and wherein the lid 20 is hingedlyconnected to the rear panel 15 such that the lid can be brought intoengagement with the front panel 10 so as to close off the open face ofthe enclosure.

Thus it will be seen that carrying case 5 has three basic states:

(i) Closed State (FIGS. 1, 2 and 5): where front panel 10 and back panel15 are snap-locked to one another, and lid 20 is snap-locked to thepreviously-joined front and back panels, so as to form a fully-closedenclosure;

(ii) Open-Lid State (FIG. 3): where front panel 10 and back panel 15 aresnap-locked to one another, but lid 20 is opened relative to thepreviously-joined front and back panels, so as to provide top access tothe partial enclosure formed by the previously-joined front and backpanels (e.g., so that the carrying case can be tipped so as to “spillout”, in a controlled fashion, the contents of the carrying case); and

(iii) Fully-Opened State (FIG. 4): where the carrying case is openedlike a book, revealing the interiors of front panel 10 and back panel15, so as to provide complete access to the contents of the carryingcase.

Thus it will be seen that carrying case 5 essentially comprises atwo-hinged (i.e., hinges 25 and 30) receptacle for carrying personalitems, with the carrying case providing different degrees of accessdepending on its current configuration.

Carrying case 5 is preferably formed out of a water-impervious,substantially rigid material, with the various components formingsubstantially splashproof or watertight seals when brought intoengagement with one another, so as to form a protective case. Ifdesired, this splashproof or watertight seal may be enhanced by theaddition of a gasket at the edges of the components, or by lining eachcompartment with a soft elastomeric (e.g., rubber, silicone, etc.)material. See also FIG. 9, which shows a gasket 86 on the bottom edgesof lid 20. In one preferred construction, carrying case 5 is formed outof polypropylene; however, carrying case 5 can also be formed out ofanother suitable material, for example, other plastics, metals(including precious metals), wood, a vegetable-based composite, Kevlar,etc. If desired, carrying case 5 can be formed out of a recycled (orrecyclable) material.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, carrying case 5 is preferably sized so as tobe slighter larger than the size of a standard credit card so as toconveniently accommodate the same (or other objects of approximately thesame size, as will hereinafter be discussed).

In one form of the invention, lid 20 includes an attachment hole 87,which can be used for attaching the carrying case to a lanyard, string,thong, chain, neck attachment, wrist attachment or pants attachment,etc. Alternatively, hole 87 can be used to attach a key ring or otherpersonal item to carrying case 5. Preferably, hole 87 is closed to theinterior of carrying case 5 (i.e., so that no water may enter theinterior of carrying case 5 through hole 87).

Interior Elements

It is also possible to add elements to the interior(s) of front panel 10and/or back panel 15, so as to provide additional features to carryingcase 5. By way of example but not limitation, these additional elementscan provide a money clip feature, or additional internal compartments,etc. The additional elements for these features can be formed as anintegral part of front panel 10 and/or back panel 15 or, morepreferably, they can be formed separately from front panel 10 and backpanel 15 and attached thereto.

Thus, for example, and looking now at FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown amoney clip element 90 which generally comprises a flat planar body 95and a tongue 100. Money clip element 90 is preferably slidably mountedto front panel 10 by sliding flat planar body 95 undergrooves/rails/guides 105. Thus, money clip element 90 locks into place,but can be easily removed. The money clip element 90 offers the user aone-piece insert which can hold cash, credit cards, a driver's license,etc.

In addition to the foregoing, it should also be appreciated that moneyclip element 90 can be unsnapped from front panel 10 and carried by theuser as a standalone product (i.e., it may be used separately fromcarrying case 5). Furthermore, money clip element 90 may be providedwith a hole 108 (FIG. 7) for mounting a keychain or the like thereto.

Looking next at FIGS. 6 and 8, there is shown a cardholder element 110.Cardholder element 110 can hold credit cards/business card-sized items,e.g., credit cards, identification cards, MP3 players, small flat screentelevisions, etc. Cardholder element 110 comprises bases 115, sidewalls120 (which extend vertically upward from bases 115) and a flat planarbody 125 (sitting atop sidewalls 120), whereby cardholder element 110can be slidably mounted to back panel 15 using grooves/rails/guides 130so that flat planar body 125 will be offset from the plane of back panel15, whereby to create a chamber 135 between cardholder element 110 andback panel 15 (FIG. 9). Preferably cardholder element 110 includes acentral opening 140 which allows the user to push the innermost card inthe compartment out of the top end of the case.

Of course, the positioning of money clip element 90 and cardholderelement 110 may be reversed (i.e., cardholder element 110 may be mountedto front panel 10 and money clip element 90 may be mounted to back panel15).

Furthermore, additional elements may be provided to add additionalfeatures to carrying case 5.

If desired, one or more of the additional elements may be formed of atranslucent or transparent material (see, for example, FIG. 10, whichshows a translucent money clip element 90).

Additionally, one or more of front panel 10 and/or back panel 15 may beformed of a translucent or transparent material (see, for example, FIG.11, which shows a transparent back panel 15). This feature allows aphotograph or the like (including an electronic still image photodisplay, an electronic moving image photo display, etc.), mounted insidecarrying case 5, to be viewed while the case is closed. Such anarrangement can help personalize the product.

These personal images (e.g., family photographs, kids school drawings,etc.) could be derived from photographs or digital pictures scaled tofit the carrying case. To this end, a template 142 (FIG. 12) may beprovided to size these personal images so they will fit in this recessedcompartment. The user can then print and cutout the image and slip itinto the recessed display window.

Alternatively, a mirrored card, which acts as a mirror, may be providedin place of a photograph being mounted within the carrying case 5.

Examples of other elements which may be configured to be carried byfront panel 10 and/or back panel 15 include, but are not limited to,snowboard/skateboarder tools, digital media/memory, bike tools, darts,mini CDs, mini hard drives, videogame cards, golf accessories, creditcard sized tools, smart card, MP3 players, other audio players, flatscreen televisions, cellular telephones, other communication devices,cameras, video cameras, GPS navigators/receivers, compasses, clocks,personal protection devices (e.g., such as a Taser-like device), lights,videogames, electronic photo displays, waterproof containers forcarrying cash, cards, cosmetics, etc. It is also anticipated thatspeakers may be inserted into front panel 10 and back panel 15, one oneach panel, so that the speakers are exposed when the carrying case isopened.

Also, if desired, a Radio Frequency ID (RFID) element 145 (FIG. 13), orsimilar device, or other electronic tracking device, could be embeddedor supplied with the carrying case 5. Such a device can be used to trackthe location of the carrying case and/or identify its owner if recoveredfollowing theft. Furthermore, such a device can function as achild-locator (i.e., as a sort of Lojack for kids) so that a child canbe located through the device.

Modifications

It will be appreciated that still further embodiments of the presentinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of thepresent disclosure. It is to be understood that the present invention isby no means limited to the particular constructions herein disclosedand/or shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications orequivalents within the scope of the invention.

1. A carrying case system comprising: a wallet-sized carrying case forholding personal items, the wallet-sized carrying case comprising: asubstantially rigid front panel comprising a four-sided planar body andan upstanding rim extending along three sides of the four-sided planarbody; a substantially rigid rear panel comprising a four-sided planarbody and an upstanding rim extending along three sides of the four-sidedplanar body; and a lid; wherein the front panel is hingedly connected tothe rear panel such that their respective rims can be brought intoengagement with one another so as to form an enclosure with an openface; and wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the rear panel suchthat the lid can be brought into engagement with the front panel so asto close off the open face of the enclosure.
 2. A system according toclaim 1 wherein at least a portion of the carrying case is translucent.3. A system according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of thecarrying case is transparent.
 4. A system according to claim 1 whereinthe carrying case is splashproof when the lid engages the front panel.5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the carrying case is waterproofwhen the lid engages the front panel.
 6. A system according to claim 1wherein the front panel is hingedly connected to the rear panel with aliving hinge.
 7. A system according to claim 1 wherein the lid ishingedly connected to the rear panel with a living hinge.
 8. A systemaccording to claim 1 wherein the lid comprises a hole for connecting thecarrying case to another article.
 9. A system according to claim 8wherein the article comprises a loop connected to one from the groupconsisting of: a neck attachment, wrist attachment, clothing attachmentand keyring.
 10. A system according to claim 1 wherein the lid locks thefront panel to the rear panel when the lid engages the front panel. 11.A system according to claim 10 wherein the front panel comprise a tongueand the lid comprises a tongue-receiving opening, and further whereinthe lid is locked to the front panel when the tongue is received in thetongue-receiving opening.
 12. A system according to claim 11 wherein atleast one of the front panel and rear panel is sufficiently flexible torelease the tongue from the tongue-receiving opening when the frontpanel is pushed toward the rear panel.
 13. A system according to claim 1wherein the respective rims lock to one another when they are broughtinto engagement.
 14. A system according to claim 1 wherein the systemfurther comprises a money clip element, and further wherein the moneyclip element is attached to one of the front panel and the rear panel.15. A system according to claim 14 wherein the money clip element isreleasably attached to one of the front panel and the rear panel.
 16. Asystem according to claim 15 wherein the money clip element comprises aplanar frame and a tongue flexibly mounted to the planar frame, whereinthe front panel or rear panel comprises guides, and further wherein theplanar frame is mounted to the panel by sliding the planar frame underthe guides.
 17. A system according to claim 15 wherein at least aportion of the money clip element is translucent whereby to rendervisible an identification card attached thereto.
 18. A system accordingto claim 15 wherein the money clip element comprises a hole forconnecting the money clip element to another article.
 19. A systemaccording to claim 1 wherein the system further comprises a cardholderelement, and further wherein the cardholder element is attached to oneof the front panel and the rear panel.
 20. A system according to claim19 wherein the cardholder element is releasably attached to one of thefront panel and the rear panel.
 21. A system according to claim 20wherein the cardholder element comprises a planar frame with anupstanding rim extending along at least two opposing sides of the planarframe, with the upstanding rim comprising rails, wherein the front panelor rear panel comprises guides, and further wherein the planar frame ismounted to the panel by sliding the rails under the guides so that theplanar frame is displaced from the planar body of the panel.
 22. Asystem according to claim 21 wherein the planar frame comprises a holefor providing access to a card disposed in the cardholder element.
 23. Asystem according to claim 1 wherein the system further comprises anelement for attachment to one of the front panel and the rear panel,wherein the element comprises one from the group consisting of:electronic still image photo displays, electronic moving image photodisplays, mirrors, snowboard tools, skateboard tools, digitalmedia/memory, bike tools, darts, mini CDs, mini hard drives, videogamecards, golf accessories, credit card sized tools, smart cards, MP3players, other audio players, televisions, cellular telephones, othercommunication devices, cameras, video cameras, GPS navigators/receivers,compasses, clocks, personal protection devices, lights, videogames,waterproof containers, cards, cosmetics and speakers.
 24. A systemaccording to claim 1 wherein the system further comprises an electronictracking device.
 25. A system according to claim 24 wherein theelectronic tracking device comprises a Radio Frequency ID element.